Mining giant Barrick has begun moving from conventional digital mine systems toward what it calls AI-native operations. The company has partnered with US-based industrial AI company Avathon to develop a unified intelligent system covering the entire production chain. Deployment will begin at Barrick’s North American gold assets.
The project centers on the Avathon Autonomy platform. It will continuously analyze data across the mining value chain — from mineral exploration and mine planning to safety monitoring, equipment maintenance, and supply scheduling.
The first component combines AI agents, computer vision, and big data. The system is designed to automate complex operational processes, minimize equipment downtime, and reduce costs.
The second component is predictive maintenance. The platform reads sensor data in real time, detects anomalies, and predicts equipment failures before they occur. This allows the company to shift from scheduled maintenance to condition-based maintenance, with repairs triggered by the actual state of the equipment.
The third element is the Visual AI Advisor, a computer-vision system focused on workplace safety. The AI monitors hazardous situations and incidents while also checking whether workers are wearing helmets and required personal protective equipment.
The fourth area is supply chain and logistics management. The platform will optimize material flows, automatically identify customs classifications, account for duties, and assess the risk of shipment delays on a global scale.
Barrick believes this approach could fundamentally change how the mining industry operates. The company is betting that a unified AI system can replace fragmented digital tools and turn mines into self-learning operations.
Source: @nerzhavey
